JohnKerry.com Article says he was right either way

JaJae · 11-03-2006, 11:11 PM

Kerry's Remark: Right either way

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Editorial Board

Republicans evidenced their election desperation by braying about an offhand comment that Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., made at a California college rally.

"Education" Kerry said "-- if you make the most of it and you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Was Kerry making fun of the president, or warning students against the pitfalls awaiting the undereducated in general?

It doesn't matter. Kerry was right either way.

Kerry wasn't saying -- regardless of the Republican spin -- that our troops are stupid.

Kerry's intended point was obvious. President Bush didn't do his homework before he ordered the invasion. He didn't study the intricacies of Mideast religion, culture, politics and tribalism. He wasn't smart about it and we are stuck in Iraq.

Although there are plenty of well-educated people in our armed forces -- Kerry was one of them -- military service has long been an opportunity employer for those with less education and fewer skills than they need to work in the private sector. Indeed, the military sells itself as a place to garner skills and to help pay for higher education.

And wars, including this one, are often fought by those less privileged -- albeit no less smart -- than the sons and daughters of those who lead us into them.

Apologies? Sure, from the cut-and-run Democratic candidates who've cancelled appearances with Kerry.

This man never learns his lesson. Everyone realizes quite often the people going into military don't have the best opportunities available to them.

That's not the point. The reason people got upset is because as a senator you don't phrase it the way you did. And when you "apologize" you don't go and run this on your personal website.

I don't know how this got on his website, but if Kerry's staff had anything to do with it they're just rehashing this before elections again.

Scrum · 11-04-2006, 12:04 AM

Actually, isn't that a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article?

Stylerod · 11-04-2006, 12:06 AM

Kerry's intended point was obvious.

He's right about one thing. His point was obvious. He thinks anyone that joins the military is stupid. No two ways about it.

I love how he calls it "republican spin" when people from him own party were dissing him.

Get a clue.

Scrum · 11-04-2006, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

He's right about one thing. His point was obvious. He thinks anyone that joins the military is stupid. No two ways about it.

That was not his point and i'm sick of this argument. Kerry didn't intend to imply that everyone in the military is dumb. He has done more for the vtes than anyone else has.

Did he think he would get away without this uproar if he did say that on purpose? Why would he even bother to make any kind of apology if that was his intention? Think for a second about that and get back to me.

motivez · 11-04-2006, 01:03 AM

Newsflash: Most people don't care that he botched a joke.

I agree that he was right either way, though. People who fail to accomplish for themselves in school and afterward often times are forced to turn to the military as their only option. Our wars generally are fought by the lower end of the class scale

Certainly there are exceptions, but little Mr. Multi-Millionaire Jr. isn't generally the dude signing up for college money etc.. there's a reason they offer such things in their advertisements, and that's because it's an attractive offer for those who can't afford it on their own.

Like I said in the last thread though, I don't think that denigrates their service at all. They should still be respected and honored like all servicemen, but I'm not going to, and I certainly don't want our Senators to shy away from an issue because of political incorrectness.

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Actually, isn't that a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article?

Yes, but they chose to put it on their website:
JohnKerry.com - News Articles

They don't add many stories to their site, they chose to add this.

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

Newsflash: Most people don't care that he botched a joke.

I agree that he was right either way, though. People who fail to accomplish for themselves in school and afterward often times are forced to turn to the military as their only option. Our wars generally are fought by the lower end of the class scale

Certainly there are exceptions, but little Mr. Multi-Millionaire Jr. isn't generally the dude signing up for college money etc.. there's a reason they offer such things in their advertisements, and that's because it's an attractive offer for those who can't afford it on their own.

Like I said in the last thread though, I don't think that denigrates their service at all. They should still be respected and honored like all servicemen, but I'm not going to, and I certainly don't want our Senators to shy away from an issue because of political incorrectness.

I understand where you're coming from. The problem wasn't that some didn't agree with what he said. It was the fact that he said it. By posting this article on his website it's kinda taking back the apology he gave for saying it.

The timeline is:
Kerry botches joke
Kerry refuses to apologize
Kerry apologizes
Kerry posts news article saying the statement he finally apologized for was correct.

It kinda discredits and form of apology he gave. No?

It's like if I stereotyped a race in a botched joke. And people demand an apology. I refuse. Then finally under pressure from my own party, I release a written apology. Then on my personal website I post an article saying my botched joke was right anyway. It kinda takes away from the sincerity of apology.

DosEquis · 11-04-2006, 01:20 AM

As long as he doesn't insult the troops by rushing them to war without the armor they needed. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by sending them to remove WMDs that are not there. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by fucking up veterans benefits. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by putting a civilian contractor next to them that makes 5x the money they do for the same job.

Support the troops everyone!

motivez · 11-04-2006, 01:20 AM

I didn't know the article was written by John Kerry himself?

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

I didn't know the article was written by John Kerry himself?

No, but it was hand-picked from the thousands of articles and editorials in the world and placed on his webpage under "News Articles".

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 01:50 AM

I dunno, I just kinda take it as, since it's on his website. He or his campaign crew endorses the message.

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 11:50 AM

wtf

On his front page now along with a Keith Olberdouche video. This guy is political suicide.

KatKanPlay · 11-04-2006, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

wtf

On his front page now along with a Keith Olberdouche video. This guy is political suicide.

I dont see suicide here, I see truth...

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by KatKanPlay

I dont see suicide here, I see truth...

I understand people see "truth" in what he said. But the way he said it and the fact that he made it "crystal clear" he would not apologize for it is what caused all the commotion.

Only after he offended essentially our entire military and half our nation did he "apologize", if you could call it that.

Now he's saying what was "botched" and offensive and was apologized for is actually true.

It completely takes away from whatever crap apology he gave and we're right back at square one again. He should have apologized and dropped it. Not apologized and said "See I told you so, I was right."

This is why people are questioning his apology and whether or not he intended to say what he did. He obviously has no shame in it. It seems obvious from previous statements he's made that his "joke" wasn't anything out of the ordinary for him. And with these "news" articles being plastered literally all over his website it makes you wonder if he isn't trying to rehash this again.

Stylerod · 11-04-2006, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I understand people see "truth" in what he said. But the way he said it and the fact that he made it "crystal clear" he would not apologize for it is what caused all the commotion.

Only after he offended essentially our entire military and half our nation did he "apologize", if you could call it that.

Now he's saying what was "botched" and offensive and was apologized for is actually true.

It completely takes away from whatever crap apology he gave and we're right back at square one again. He should have apologized and dropped it. Not apologized and said "See I told you so, I was right."

This is why people are questioning his apology and whether or not he intended to say what he did. He obviously has no shame in it. It seems obvious from previous statements he's made that his "joke" wasn't anything out of the ordinary for him. And with these "news" articles being plastered literally all over his website it makes you wonder if he isn't trying to rehash this again.

motivez · 11-04-2006, 04:01 PM

Now some article that he didn't write is saying what was "botched" and offensive and was apologized for is actually true.

fixed

JaJae · 11-04-2006, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

fixed

Doesn't matter. It's all over his website and on his front page now. He's obviously endorsing the message the article implies.

7th Ninjai · 11-04-2006, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

As long as he doesn't insult the troops by rushing them to war without the armor they needed. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by sending them to remove WMDs that are not there. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by fucking up veterans benefits. As long as he doesn't insult the troops by putting a civilian contractor next to them that makes 5x the money they do for the same job.

Support the troops everyone!

Exactly. I am no fan of Democrats, but the Republicans in power have done far more to "insult" our troops.